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CONTENTSHugs 'N
Tugs Best of
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THE THANKFUL HEARTFor all that God in mercy sends— For beauty in this world of ours, —E. I. Tupper |
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CONTENTSHugs 'N
Tugs Best of
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THE THANKFUL HEARTFor all that God in mercy sends— For beauty in this world of ours, —E. I. Tupper |
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TRUE THANKSGIVING |
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In 1636, amid the darkness of the Thirty Years' War, a German pastor, Martin Rinkart, is said to have buried five thousand of his parishioners in one year, an average of fifteen a day. His parish was ravaged by war, death, and economic disaster. In the heart of that darkness, with the cries of fear outside his window, he sat down and wrote this table grace for his children: Now thank we all our God Who, from our mother's arms, |
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HUGS 'N TUGS |
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By Wendy Greiner Lefko |
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One by one he opened his presents, and for each one he said an enthusiastic "thank you." It was our 8-year-old son’s birthday party, and he was happy to be surrounded by family members enjoying the festivities. From the beginning of the evening Christian kept asking when he could open his presents. Finally when it was time he took his seat with great anticipation (there’s nothing quite like opening presents!). As a parent, I was glad to see Christian’s genuine gratitude for each gift. As with any child, however, there are times when the words "thank you" don’t come out of his mouth. Such moments as when the doctor gives him a shot to keep him healthy, or when we discipline him to teach him that disobedience is wrong, or when the teacher gives him homework to make sure he learns what he needs to, or when I give him bitter tasting medicine to help him get over a sickness, or when we say no to his request for something that may not be in his best interest. It’s not in human nature to say "thank you" for unpleasant things, as necessary as they may be. We are quick to thank the Lord for the obvious blessings in life, the good things, the gifts so nicely wrapped in pleasant circumstances—our family, friends, health, home, food, finances, church, freedom. But it’s much harder to thank the Lord for the difficult times—the trials that grow our patience, the sorrows that deepen our compassion, the struggles that stretch our faith, the heartaches that strengthen our devotion to Christ. These are all necessary tools the Lord uses to mold us into a greater likeness of His image. These gifts are just as precious as the pleasant ones we so readily open, and we need to be as grateful for these as we are for the pleasures in life. Without them we would never grow as believers, nor would we be able to serve Him in the capacity He desires for us. We would remain as immature babes, unable to fully enjoy and love the Lord in the way He designed for us. At Thanksgiving time may we be thankful not only for the blessings in the life, but for the trials and hard times as well. I am thankful I serve a God Who knows what is best for me and Who loves me enough to bestow upon me the right balance of blessing and hardship. "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). |
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By Rev. Larry W. GreinerIt was Monday night, August 3, at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. At the track and field stadium, the gun sounded for the 400-meter semifinals. About 100 meters into the race, Britain's Derek Redmond crumpled to the track with a torn right hamstring. Medical attendants rushed to assist him, but, as they approached, Redmond waved them aside. Struggling to his feet, he crawled and hopped in a desperate effort to finish the race. Four years earlier he had qualified for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, but ninety seconds before his competition he had to pull out because of Achilles tendon problems. In spite of five surgeries resulting from that injury, Redmond managed to qualify for the 1992 Olympics. Yet here he was once again suffering from a career-ending injury. "I'm not quitting," he said to himself. "I'm going to finish this race." Hopping and crawling, he worked his way down the lane. Up in the stands, a big guy wearing a T-shirt, tennis shoes, and a Nike cap that said "Just Do It" across the front barreled out of the stands, hurled aside a security guard, ran to Derek Redmond's side, and embraced him. He was Jim Redmond, Derek's father. Jim was one of these sports dads who changes his whole life for the sake of his athlete child. He changed jobs and moved to find the best training for his son. Now, arm around his son's waist, Derek's arm around his dad's thick shoulders and neck, they continue down the track. Mom and sister are watching back home on television. His sister, who was pregnant, goes into false labor. Mom is weeping. In the stadium the crowd is standing and cheering as Derek and his daddy work their way around the track until, finally, arm in arm, they cross the finish line. Mother and dad, are your children having trouble running the race? They may be trying to run without quitting, but sometimes it takes a parent’s loving arm to help them keep going. Or it may be the loving arm as a brother, sister or friend. Will you ask God to make you that sustaining loving arm to someone who is hurting? Dear Christian friend, perhaps you are the one who needs a supporting arm. Your loving heavenly Father extends to you His everlasting arms. He not only will bear you up, but He can also bring that human arm of love and support. Don’t give up. "Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2) |
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She is 92-years-old, petite, well poised and proud. She is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her fair fashionably coifed, and her makeup perfectly applied, in spite of the fact she is legally blind. Today she has moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making this move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home where I am employed, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room. Just wait," I said. Then she spoke these words that I will never forget: "That does not have anything to do with it," she gently replied. Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not, does not depend on how the furniture is arranged. It is how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it. It is a decision I make very morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do work. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I will focus on the new day and all the happy memories I have stored away just for this time in my life." |
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(Excerpt from a letter by our nephew Bob Buhler and his wife Sharla,, missionaries to Mexico, during a time of great testing.) " During these days of waiting, we have begun something as a family called "God-spy," meaning we are actively looking (spying) for God’s hand upon our lives. When you consciously look for His hand, it’s amazing how often you see evidences of His presence and touch through the day. . . . God in His wisdom and power has chosen us for a time of suffering, a time when all we can do is to trust Him, lean upon Him and call out to Him as never before. This letter could never contain all the treasures He has taught us during this time of our lives.""He knows the way that I take, and when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). |
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By Reverend Larry W. GreinerRecently I received a call from a distraught father pleading for help regarding his troubled and wayward 15-year-old daughter. Would I be willing to talk with her? He said that his daughter had agreed to such a meeting. The father is a Christian but his wife had been unfaithful, leaving him for another man. An older daughter is going on with the Lord. Having known the family for some time, I felt that the youngest daughter had never professed faith in Christ, so I agreed to try and help. I knew that only Jesus could satisfy her soul and transform her life. With her father waiting in the next room, I sat down and listened as his daughter poured out her heart. It was a joy to counsel her from the Word of God and share how Jesus Christ loved her enough to die for her. He alone could deliver her from the bondage of sin. Finally, after two hours, I asked if she would like to receive Jesus Christ as her Savior. With tears streaming down her face, she eagerly said, "Yes!" She followed in the sinner's prayer and gave her heart to Christ. As we rose to our feet, her face beamed, and we both shed tears of joy. When she saw her father she wept more intensely as she told him she had accepted Christ. Overjoyed, he embraced her as they wept together. Please pray for this young lady as she seeks to follow Christ in obedience and by the power of the Holy Spirit live a life that honors Him. These troubled young people need to know that God the Father loves them like no earthly Father could love them and that Jesus Christ is their only hope. May they see Christ's love in us first, for only then will they listen to what we have to say about Him. |
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